Trowa Barton – Earth Magic
Trowa stood in the farmyard just at dawn, watching the sun rise like the great ball of Fire Magic that it was. Trowa was a tall and thin man with light brown hair that fell over one of this green eyes. He could remember a time when the renewal of the day renewed him as well, but that time now seemed long past.
"Are you up already, Trowa?" His mother called from the house. "Your Pa'll be very pleased t' see ya up and eager to start work today." Trowa didn't answer. His mother had caught him watching the sun rise before.
His father came out of the house and looked at Trowa and asked, "Already out here? Is somethin' botherin' you, boy?"
Pa, have you ever wondered which Fire magic practitioner was powerful enough to create the sun? Or what our world would be like if no one could do magic?"
Trowa heard his father walking toward him and turned to face his father. Camil Barton wasn't quite as tall as his son, but he was just as thin and had the same light brown hair and green eyes. Camil and his wife were both born earth magic practitioners both neither were High or Middle practitioners, which suited them both fine for it kept them on the farm. Trowa found it hard to agree with his father on this subject.
"Boy, the creation of the sun is somethin' we ain't meant to know. And what the world would be like without magic is foolishness, I ain't got time for fantasy and neither do you since we will be busy encouragin' today." Camil said shortly.
His father turned to go back to the house but Trowa know that he had to say what was needed said now otherwise he would never say it.
"Pa, I can't help today because I will be leaving." His father stopped short. "Last week in widdertown, the guild man told me I qualified as a Middle practitioner."
His father turned back with a forced smile. "You know I don't believe in that nonsense, but I give you my congradulations. If you mean to go to town to celebrate alone, there's no need. As soon as we finish work today, your brothers and me'll go with you."
"Pa, I'm not going to celebrate, I'm going to Gan Garee to test for High practitioner." Trowa said slowly.
"What have they been tellin' ya boy? That you can easily test into High practitioner? It don't work that way, in th' capital you will be easy pickin' fer---"
"For those who take advantage of honest country folk," Trowa interrupted sadly. "But you never told me how you know that. If you can tell me or point out someone who it has happened to, I will ignore the law and go talk to them."
"Isn't my word good enough?" Camil asked his face darkened in anger.
"So what you said is just opinion. I know you love the farm, Pa, but I don't. That is why I'm leaving. Will you wish me good luck?" Trowa asked looking warily at his father.
The older man stood stiffly, glaring at Trowa. "If'n y'r goin' to be a fool, then go. Who needs you here? Get out an' stay out, an' never come back."
"Pa, I need to say goodbye to Ma and my brothers. It will only take a minute or-"
"Ya don't have a Ma 'r brothers no more," his father shouted back without stopping. "All ya got is the clothes on y'r back, now get off my land!" The door slammed, closing painfully and finally on the only life Trowa had known. He felt awful though it wasn't unexpected.
Trowa went to the barn and through it, pausing to pick up the bag of clothes he had packed last night. Trowa turned onto the farm road that lead to the main road. He wanted to turn and look back on the only home he had known, but something kept him from looking back, some wild magic keeping him looking toward his destiny.
Trowa spotted Hat Riven and his father waiting in a small farm cart just ahead where the roads met. Trowa felt a little jealous and angry. Phor Riven didn't want his son leaving any more than Camil did but had insisted on seeing his son off.
"Morning, Tro," Hat called as soon as Trowa got close enough. "Looks like we got the nice say we were hoping for."
"Sure does, Hat. Morning, Mr. Riven. I really appreciate your stopping for me."
"Well, I b'lieve it's a man's duty to see his son off even if he doesn't want to. You climb on up here, and we'll get along t' town." Phor answered, his ling, thin face cold with disapproval.
Trowa nodded and put his case in the wagon and climbed to the seat. The ride into town was silent, and by the time they got there things had already begun to come awake. People were sweeping their new wooden walks, proud that the town had grown enough to warrant having them. There was talk of cobblestonning the main streets but so far it was no more than talk. Laying the stones would require the hiring of strong Middle preactitioners of Earth magic, and maybe a Middle in Spirit magic to smooth it out.
"They could have had us laying the stones for next to nothing." Hat murmured to Trowa. "By the time they get around to realizing it, we'll be Highs and beyond small jobs like that."
"As we are the only two in the district who even came close to qualifying for Middle, they won't have local talent when they do make up their minds." Trowa agreed. "I wonder how much bigger Gan Garee is than Widdertown?"
"Probably twice the size or three times the size. Not that I really care. It's the positions available that I care about. I will check on them as soon as I pass the test for High, of course."
Trowa nodded and let the subject drop. Mater Lugal, the district representative of the Guild of Magical Aspects, had let it slip that he though Hat was a strong Middle and nothing more. He told Hat that but Hat tended to dismiss anything he didn't care to hear.
"Master Lugal ain't here yet." Phor observed as pulled to a halt. "Hat, you take care. Trowa, good luck to you." Hat and Trowa got down from the wagon and watched as it pulled away.
"I hope Mater Lugal gets here soon, the coach to Hemson Crossing will be getting here in less than an hour." Trowa sighed.
"What in the name of Chaos is that?" Hat demanded just as Trowa began to feel that tingle that meant magic was being worked. "If this is somebody's idea of a joke…?"
Trowa stared at a wide ball of flames rolling right at them, clearly the work of someone with Fire Affinity. Joke or not, the ball was coming fast. Trowa shoved Hat to one side and dove out of the way. He hit the ground and rolled, half expecting to hear laughter coming from the person who sent the fireball. There was no laughter. The fireball came speeding back towards them.
Trowa climbed to his feet and promptly jumped out of the way again. If he didn't act fast, someone was going to get hurt. Trowa reached for his Earth Magic.
Touching it was more than effortless now. For the last few years magic had stopped being something he could do and had started to be something that was part of him. Time almost stopped as he and the magic glowed together, one entity greater than the sum of its two parts. Trowa raised his arms and extended his fingers and thrust into the dirt of the street. The packed dirt lept to comply with his wishes. The dirt formed a whirlwind that spun around the fireball, surrounding it more and more until there was more earth than fire. The earth began to merge with the fireball without giving it anything to burn. After a moment the fireball was denied air and it died reluctantly and completely.
After it was over, Trowa withdrew. Shouts of the onlookers filled the air. Trowa was disturbed at how hard it was to sever himself from the power. The stronger he got, the harder it became.
"Trowa, what is going on here?" a voice shouted, and Trowa looked up to see Master Lugal hurring toward them.
"Somebody has a real bad sense of humor, Mater Lugal. We were standing here waiting for you, and suddenly that thing attacked us! If we hadn't been able to fight back it would have gotten us." Hat complained toe the Guild man.
Trowa saw no need to correct Hat's use of the word 'we'. If Hat had tried to use his own magic, Trowa would have felt it, so Hat had just let Trowa take care of them both.
"I should think a Fire talent with that strength should be on their way to the capital. Is it possible to hide that kind of strength?" Trowa asked trying to change the subject.
"Offhand, I would say no." Mater Lugal said with a frown. "There hasn't been anyone with a strong Fire talent around here in twenty years. Before I search I need to get you two on the coach. Get your cases and we'll go."
Both Hat and Trowa complied. Others like Master Lugal had all of the aspects but could not use the power. They would come to help with the search. But the coach was coming so they had to leave. Master Lugal had already bought their tickets.
"Now don't forget your fare is paid all the way to Gan Garee, but if you loose these tickets you will have to walk." Master Lugal lectured as he handed over the tickets and small bags of silver. Both Hat and Trowa took Master Lugal's advice to heart before boarding the coach and set out for the journey.